Interview with Dominik Szoboszlai as the in-form Liverpool midfielder previews Sunday's trip to Manchester City
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 23: Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool celebrates after the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after Liverpol's win at Manchester City last season
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The sight of an exhausted Dominik Szoboszlai crumpled on the Etihad turf, fresh from inspiring Liverpool to a statement victory over Manchester City, was one of the enduring images of a title-winning term. The midfielder had turned in a performance of poise and purpose back in February, running over 11 kilometres while also supplying an assist and a goal.
It was Szoboszlai who was most trusted to carry out an unusual tactical plan against Pep Guardiola's then champions as Arne Slot went to east Manchester without a recognised striker in his starting line-up.
The decision to play the indefatigable at the tip of the midfield was an inspired one as the Hungary captain decisively contributed to a huge win that took the eventual champions 11 points clear of Arsenal in the race.
Szoboszlai returns to Manchester this weekend as arguably Liverpool's player of the season so far. The former RB Leipzig star has already shone in three separate positions of right-back, defensive midfield and as leader of the press in the No.10 spot this time out.
And as the 25-year-old gets set to lock horns with City once more, it is that performance back in February that he says needs to be studied to set the tone against their rejuvenated opponents, who head into the weekend in second.
"That's our goal (to reproduce that performance)," he says. "Hopefully this time if I get a goal and an assist there I will get the man of the match award rather than Mo Salah!
"That's what we've missed I guess. I think everybody could see against Real Madrid all of us running, fighting, being there for each other, covering each other's back. The most important thing is to keep going like this.
"There is a long way to go. Now it's all about the Premier League and facing Man City at the weekend. We know how good they are now. We have to focus on that."
Dominik Szoboszlai face down on the Etihad turf after Liverpool's 2-0 win at Manchester City in February 2025
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Liverpool could find themselves as many as 10 points behind leaders Arsenal when they get underway on Sunday afternoon and they will arrive at the Etihad aiming to build on last week's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa after a torrid run of four straight Premier League defeats.
Mikel Arteta's men are hosted by high-flying Sunderland on Saturday evening but Szoboszlai says no conclusions can be drawn this weekend, regardless of any results across the league.
"The season is long," he said. "If we were seven points clear at this stage nobody would be saying that we had won the league already. Last season when we were leading the way, we just stayed calm and kept on going because anything can happen.
"We just need to focus on ourselves, win our games and then let's see what other teams are doing. I think the team spirit. We are a really close team. Everyone protects each other, we are there for each other.
"That's been the most important thing. When everything works, everyone is happy and it's all positive, it's easy to stick together. The hardest thing is when you find yourself in a position where we were a few weeks ago. But even then we stuck together and kept on going, believing it would turn for us."
It's over two years now since Szoboszlai arrived as the most-expensive addition of a midfield rebuild that also saw Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo signed. A release clause of £60m was triggered at the end of June to bring him in from Leipzig and he has become an integral part of the operation under Slot.
Szoboszlai, though, doesn't yet see himself as one of the leaders of the squad, despite his status as Hungary skippers. He prefers to leave those roles to the long-serving and more decorated figures within the playing staff.
He says: "We have enough leaders with Virgil (van Dijk), with Mo (Mohamed Salah), with Robbo (Andy Robertson), with Ali (Alisson Becker).
"They have been here longer, some of them seven or eight years here, the captain and vice-captains. I just try to do my best on the pitch. If it seems like I am a leader, then I'll keep doing that on the pitch, not outside the pitch."